Suction nozzle



Feb. 16, 1937. F. J. R. KARLSTRCM SUCTION NOZZLE Filed April 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, @XMZLL.

ATTORNEY.

1937- F. J. R. KARLSTROM 2,070,834

SUCTION NOZZLE Filed April 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VAII'III/jku f7 as" 6/ BY AATroRNEY.

Patented Feb. 1c, 1931 A UNITED STATES PATENT oar-ice 2,070,834 SUCTION Nozzm Fredrik Johan Robert Karistriim, Stockholm, Sweden, assignor to Eleotrolnx Corporation, Dover, Del., a corporation oi Delaware Application April 20, 1935, Serial No. 17,381

19 Claims. '(ol. -13) My invention relates to vacuum cleaners and I8. The outer edge of diaphragm I. may be more particularly to an improved suction nozzle formed with a bead l9 which not only adds for use in connection with vacuum cleaning apstrength to the diaphragm but provides a b mp r paratus. Still more particularly, my invention extending around the nozzle so that, if the latrelates to a nozzle including an agitator operable ter is accidentally brought into contact with furniture, no damage will result. Parts 18 and I4 One of the objects of my invention is to promay be secured together by a plurality of screws vide a nozzle of this type wherein the agitator 20 which extend through holes formed in the member is secured to a flexible diaphragm which diaphragm adjacent the edge thereof. The more by air flow through the nomle.

is caused to move by the variation in the prescentral part of the diaphragm is formed with 10 sure of the air acting thereon. This movement an elongated opening and the inner edge of the is utilized to open and close one or more valves diaphragm bounding this opening is clamped bewhich are arranged to cause the aforesaid varitween the lower part 2| and the upper part 22 of an agitator member. Lower part 2| is formed ation in air pressure.

A further object of my invention is to provide with downwardly extending walls 23 which bound is a nozzle of this type wherein the agitator meman opening 23:: and extend through the elongated ber may be automatically rendered inoperative, intake opening IS. The lower edges of walls 2! whenever the nozzle is placed on a hardwood may be formed with grooves 24, shown more parfioor or the like. ticularly in Fig. 2. Springs 25 are secured at A still further object of my invention is to one end to intermediate part It oi the hollow 20 provide a nozzle having an agitator which may member and at the other end to the upper part be manually rendered inoperative at will. 22 of the agitator and serve to movably support Further objects and advantages of my inventhe agitator within the hollow member. 1

tion will be apparent from the following descrip- Upper part 22 of the agitator is formed with tion considered in connection with the accoma preferably circular opening 26. A valve mempanying drawings, which. form a part of this ber 21 made of flexible material, such as rubber, is secured to a hollow spindle 28. Spindle 28 Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiis reciprocably supported within the top oi intermediate part H and the upper part I! of the specification and on which:

ment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is across-sectional view taken on the hollow member ID. With the parts in the poslline 2-2 of Fig. 1, but with a valve member in tion shown in Fig. 1, valve member 2'! serves to close the opening 26 in the upper part 22 of Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another emthe agitator. It will thus be seen that the diaphragm l8 andthe agitator serve to divide the a different position;

bodiment of my invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a further emhollow member into a lower chamber 29 and an bodiment of my invention; and

line 5-5 of Fig. 4. 1 chambers.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, The space between the top of intermediate intermediate chamber 30 and that valve member Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on the 21 controls communication between these two reference character, 10 designates generally a part II and upper part 15 of the hollow member hollow member formed with an opening ll adaptmay be termed a control chamber and is divided ed to be connected to a source of suction, such as into an atmospheric compartment 3| and a sucthe vacuum cleaner unit 9, by means of handle tion compartment 32 by means of a flexible diamember l2 and flexible hose 8. Handle l2 may phragm 33. Compartment 2! is permanently in be pivotally connected to hollow member ID in communication with the atmosphere through 4 order that it may be lowered towards a horizontal the bore 34 of spindle 28 and a hole 35 formed position if it is desired to operate the mouthin the spindle below the diaphragm. Compartpieoe under furniture or the like, as shown in ment 32 is permanently in communication with my Patent No. 2,031,957, issued February 25, 1936. chamber 30 by means of passageways 38 formed Hollow member in comprises alowerpart ii, an in the top of intermediate part it, holes 31 intermediate part I! and an upper part l5. formed in the edge of diaphragm 33 and pas- Lower part I3 is formed with an elongated insageways 28 formed in upper member IS. A coil take opening It and, if desired, with further openspring 89 is retained within compartment 32 beings ll. Clamped between lower member l2 and tween the top thereof and diaphragm 33. Each intermediate member I! is a flexible diaphragm turn of spring 28 is of diflerent diameter so that,

when the spring is compressed, the turns may nest one within the other.

The operation of the above described embodiment is as follows: a

If the nozzle is placed on a rug or the like, the opening 23a bounded by walls 23 is sealed to a considerable extent, and when air is exhausted from chamber 30 through handle l2 and hose 6 by the vacuum cleaner 9, a partial vacuum is produced in chamber 30. This vacuum also prevails in chamber 32 due to the fact that this chamber'communicates with chamber 30 through the passageway formed at 36, 31 and 36. This reduction in pressure 'is suflicient to permit the atmopsheric pressure prevailing in chamber 3| to move the diaphragm 33 to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 against the action of spring 39. This upward movement of the diaphragm causes spindle 28 to move upwardly and valve member 21 closes the opening 26 in the upper part 22 of the agitator member. Chamber 30 is now completely closed from the atmosphere and the low pressure produced therein causes diaphragm l8 and the agitator member connected thereto to move upwardly. During a part of this movement the outer edge of flexible valve member 21 remains in contact with upper part 22 of the agitator and opening 26 remains sealed. However, further upward movement of the agitator pulls it away from the valve member and communication between chamber 30 and the interior of the agitator is established through opening 26. This immediately reduces the vacuum prevailing in chamber 30, and produces a partial vacuum in chamber 29 underneath the diaphragm and springs 25, which were stressed by the upward movement of the agitator, now forces the agitator down. Air is drawn into chamber 30 through the interior of theagitator and passes through handle |2 to the vacuum cleaner unit. When the agitator moves downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1, it again contacts the outer edge of valve member 21 and opening 26 is again sealed. This permits the pressure existing in chamber 29 to increase and that prevailing in chamber 30 to decrease and the cycle just described is repeated.

The agitator member is hence caused to move up and down at a high rate of speed and the walls 23 thereof rapidly strike the object being cleaned and thus dislodge dirt adhering thereto. This dirt is picked up by the air stream passing in to the hollow agitator member and is carried through the handle l2 and hose 8 to the vacuum cleaner unit 9.

As long as the opening 23a is sealed to the extent that it is by a rug or the like, the pressure in chamber 32, although it varies rapidly due to the opening and closing of passage 26, never reaches a value sufficiently high to cause diaphragm 33 in the control chamber to move valve member 21 downwardly. However, in the event that the nozzle is placed on a hardwood surface, or other surface which does not sufficiently seal the opening 2311, the reduction in pressure occurring within chamber 30, and consequently within chamber 32, is not sufficient to overcome the force of spring39 and the spindle 28 and valve member 21 remain in the lower position shown by the dot-dash lines in Fig. 1. Consequently, valve member 21 does not seal the opening 26, with the result that no variations in the pressure acting on the diaphragm l8 are produced and consequently, the agitator member is not moved up and member continues to operate when the nozzle is on a hardwood floor or the like, it not only produces a highly undesirable noise, but might mar the floor if the walls 23 are made of metal. It will be seen that the arrangement above described operates automatically to render the agitator member inoperative when the nozzle is used on a hard surface.

The embodiment shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except that the agitator member is rendered inoperative manually instead of automatically. In this embodiment, the hollow member In comprises a lower member l3, similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and an upper member 40 which may be secured to the lower member in the same manner that intermediate member H in Figs. 1 and 2 is secured. Valve member 21 is supported on the lower end of a spindle 4| slidably mounted in the top of upper part 40. The upper end of spindle 4| is provided with a hand grasp member 42 and a spring 43 is retained between member 42 and a shoulder 44. Spring 43 tends to hold the spindle and the valve member in the upper position shown in Fig.

3. Member 42 is provided with a pin 45 arranged to slidein an axial groove 46. The lower end of axial groove 46 communicates with a circumferential groove 41.

When it is desired to render the agitator inoperative, member 42 is pressed downwardly against the action of spring 43 until pin 45 sliding in groove 46, reaches circumferential groove 41. Thereafter, a slight rotation of member 42 in either direction moves pin 45 into the circumferential groove and spindle 4| and valve 21 are retained in the lower position. In this position valve member 21 is ineffective to seal opening 26 in the agitator.

When the valve member is in its upper position, as shown in Fig. 3, the operation of the device to produce rapid movement of the agitator is the same as that described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the nozzle shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the hollow member ID comprises a lower portion 50, an inmember 54 comprises a lower part 55 having downwardly extending walls 56 bounding an opening 51, and an upper part 56 formed with a preferably circular opening 59 therethrough. Coil springs 60 serve to support the agitator member within the hollow member l0. Diaphragm 53 and agitator member 54 serve todivide hollow member Ill into a lower chamber 6| and an intermediate chamber 62.

An upper or control chamber 63 is formed between intermediate part 5| and upper part 52. Passageways 64 connect chambers 62 and 63 together, while passages 65 connect chamber 63 with the atmosphere. A valve member 66 formed ofrubber, or other resilient material has an upper disc-shaped portion, the outer edge of which is clamped between the top of part 5| and a ring 61. Ring 61 is held in place by means of projections 68 on upper part 52. The upper part of valve member 66 is thus exposed to the pressure existing within chamber 63. The lower end of valve member 66 cooperates with opening 59 so as to provide a closure therefor. The lower end of valve member 66 may be provided with a disc 69 of metal or other rigid material for reenforcing purposes.

g mm,- Plnsllareslidablymountedinintermediate partli andupper part II adiacentto l4 and 66. A valve plate II is secured to each of pins I0. These plates serve to close passages 64 when the pins are in their lower positions and serve to close passages 66 when the pins are in their upper positions. Passages I4 and I6 and valve plate ll thus comprise two-way valve means for connecting chamber 63 selectively with the atmosphere and with chamber 62. Resilient arms 12, secured to agitator 64 are arranged to bear against the lower ends oi pins and to raise the latter when the agitator is raised.

This embodiment operates as follows:

with the parts in the respective positions, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a reduced pressure is produced in chamber 62 due to the exhaustion of air therefrom through handle II. This causes diaphragm 53 and agitator 54 to be moved upwardly by the pressure of the atmosphere acting on the lower sides thereof. This movement of the agitator compresses springs 60 and also tends to flatten out the disc-shaped portion of valve member 66. At this time the upper end of the valve member is subjected to the atmospheric pressure prevailing in chamber 63 and the lower end of valve member is likewise subjected to atmospheric pressure. which prevails underneath diaphragm 53 and within the hollow agitator member. Continued upward movement of the agitator causes arms 12 to strike and lift pins 16. Plates H are moved upwardly with the pins so as to uncover passages 64 and to close passages 65. Consequently, the reduced pressure prevailing within chamber 62 is communicated to chamber 63 and acts on the upper end of valve member 66. Inasmuch as atmospheric pressure continues to act on the lower end of the valve member, the pressures acting on opposite ends of the valve member are unbalanced and the valve member is drawn more or less up into chamber 63 and uncovers the opening 59 in the agitator. Chamber 62 is now in communication with the atmosphere through opening 68 and the pressure in chamber 62 is accordingly raised while the pressure in chamber 6| is reduced. Springs 60 are thus able to force the agitator member downwardly, whereby arms 12 permit pins Ill to fall so that plates 1| close passages 64 and open passages 65. Atmospheric pressure is thus again admitted to chamber 63 and valve member 66, due to its resiliency, takes its original shape and hence again closes opening 69 and the cycle is repeated. The result is that the agitator member 54 is vibrated rapidly and serves to dislodge dust adhering to the surface being cleaned. This dust is picked up by the air stream passing into the nozzle through the hollow agitator and the opening 59 in the top thereof and is carried through the hollow handle it to the vacuum cleaner unit.

While I have shown and described three more or less specific embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but only by the appended claims, when viewed in the light of the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path or air flow between said openings and movable due to variationsinairpressureactingthereomsaidm us therethrough, and means operative by movement or the flrst mentioned means ior increasing and decreasing flow or air through said passage to cause fluctuations in the pressure acting on said first mentioned means.

2. Ina suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path oi air flow between said openings and movable due to variationsin air pressure acting thereon, said'means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, and a valve member operative by movement of said means for increasing and decreasing flow oiair through said passage to cause fluctuations in the pressure acting on said means.

3. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an inlet opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and oscillatabledue to variations in air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, and a valve member associated with said passage and operative upon movement of said means in one direction to open said passage and upon movement of said means in the opposite direction to close said passage.

4. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an inlet opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and movable in vertical direction due to variations of air presure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, and a valve member associated with said passage and operative upon upward movement of said means to open said passage and operative upon downward movement of said means to close said passage.

5. In a suction nozzle, walls forming a hollow member having an inlet opening and an opening adapted tobe connected to a source of suction, an agitator member, means for movably supporting said agitator in said hollow member adjacent to said inlet opening, a flexible diaphragmsecured to said agitator and said walls, said agitator and said diaphragm forming a partition in said hollow member between said openings movable in response to variations in air pressure acting thereon, said partition being formed'with a passage for flow of air therethrough, and a valve member associated with said passage and operative by movement of said partition for increasing and decreasing flow of air through said passage to cause fluctuations in the pressure acting on said partition.

6. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member and movable due to variations in air pressure acting thereon, and means for simultaneously decreasing the pressure n one side of said diaphragm and increasing the pressure on the other side of said diaphragm and alternately, for simultaneously increasing the pressure on said one side and decreasing it on said other side.

'7. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member and movable due to variations in air pressure acting thereon, and means operative by movement of the first mentioned means in one direction for decreasing the pressure on one side of said diaphragm and increasing the pressure on the other side of said diaphragm and operative by movement of said first mentioned means in the opposite direction for increasing the pressure on said one side and decreasing it on said other side of said diaphragm.

8. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening adapted to be partially sealed by a surface to be cleaned and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, a movable diaphragm in said member, an agitator member secured to said diaphragm and movable therewith, means for increasing and decreasing the air pressure acting on said diaphragm to cause movement thereof, and means responsive to an increase in pressure caused by unsealing said intake opening within said memher for rendering the last mentioned means inoperative.

a 9. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, a diaphragm in said member movable in response to variations in pressure acting thereon, an agitator member secured to said diaphragm and movable therewith, valve means operable by movement of said diaphragm for increasing and decreasing the pressure acting on said diaphragm, and means for rendering said valve means inoperative.

10. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening adapted to be partially sealed by a surface to be cleaned and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, a diaphragm in said member movable in response to variations in pressure acting thereon, an agitator member secured to said diaphragm and movable therewith, valve means operable by movement of said diaphragm for increasing and decreasing the pressure acting on said diaphragm, and means responsive to an increase in pressure caused by unsealing said intake opening within said member for rendering said valve means inoperative.

11. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and movable due to variations in air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, a valve member operative by movement of said means for increasing and decreasing flow of air through said passage to cause fluctuations in the pressure acting on said means, and

means for moving said valve .member to an inoperative position.

12. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening adapted to be partially sealed by a surface to be cleaned and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and movable due to variations in air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, a valve member operative'by movement of said means for increasing and decreasing flow or air through said passage to cause fluctuations in the pressure acting on said means, and means responsive to an increase in pressure caused by unsealing said'intake opening within said hollow member for moving said valve member to an inoperative position. i

13. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an inlet opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and oscillatable due tovariations in air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, a valve member associated with said passage and operative upon movement of said means in one direction to open said passage and upon movement of said means in the opposite direction to close said passage, and means for moving said valve member to a position such that said passage is continuously open.

14. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an inlet opening adapted to be partially sealed by a surface to be cleaned and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and oscillatable due to variations in air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, a valve member associated with said passage and operative upon movement of said means in one direction to open said passage and upon movement of said means in the opposite direction to close said passage, and means responsive to an increase in pressure caused by unsealing said intake opening within said hollow member for moving said valve member to a position such that said passage is continuously open.

15. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an inlet opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path 01' air flow between said openings and movable in vertical direction due to variations of air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, a valve member associated with said passage and operative upon upward movement of said means to open said passage and operative upon downward movement of said means to close said passage, said valve member being mounted for upward and downward movement, and means for moving said valve member downwardly to a position such that said passage is continuously open.

16. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an inlet opening adapted to be partially sealed by a surface to be cleaned and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and movable in vertical direction due to variations of air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, a valve member asso ciated with said passage and operative upon up ward movement of said means to open said passage and operative upon downward movement of said means to close said passage, said valve mem-' ber beingmounted for upward and downward movement, and means responsive to an increase in pressure caused by unsealing said intake opening within said hollow member for moving said valve member downwardly to a position such that said passage is continuously open.

17. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and movable due to variations in air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, a movably mounted valve member cooperable with said passage and operative by movement of said means for increasing and decreasing flow of air through said passage to cause fluctuations in the pressure acting on said means, said hollow member being formed with a control chamber, a second diaphragm dividing said chamber into two compartments, one of said compartments being connected to the atmosphere and the other of said compartments being connected to the interior of said hollow member whereby said.

second diaphragm is subjected on one side to the pressure in said hollow member and on the other side to the constant pressure of the atmosphere, resilient means tending to move said second diaphragm against the pressure of the atmosphere, and means connecting said second diaphragm with said valve member for moving said valve member out of cooperative relation with said passage upon a substantial equalization of the air pressures acting on opposite sides of said second diaphragm.

18. In a suction nozzle, a hollow member having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, means including a flexible diaphragm and an agitator located in said member in the path of air flow between said openings and movable due to variations in air pressure acting thereon, said means being formed with a passage for flow of air therethrough, a valve member associated with said passage for increasing and decreasing the flow of air through said passage to cause fluctuations in the pressure acting on said means, said hollow member being formed with a control chamber, and two-way valve means operable by movement of the first mentioned means for connecting said chamber selectively with the atmosphere and with the interior of said hollow member, the valve member associated with said passage'being responsive to a decrease in pressure in said control chamber to increase the flow of air through said passage and being responsive to an increase in, pressure in said control chamber to decrease the flow of air through said passage.

19. In a suction nozzle, a hollow body having an intake opening and an opening adapted to be connected to a source of suction, structure including a movable member located in said body in the path of air flow between said openings, said member being movable due to variations. in air pressure acting thereon, an agitator connected to said movable member for movement there-, by, said structure being formed with a passage 

